Amy Welsman, Founder of Paume (Interview 37/100)

Hey folks. Today we have Amy Welsman, Founder of PaPaumeume, a brand leading the way to reimagine hand care. Think: skincare for your hands. She was the shout out from episode 32 with Stacy Grace, Co-Founder & CEO of KENT. And now we get to hear why Stacy thought of her.

While she backs away from my claim that they’re an innovator in the sustainably manufactured goods industry reminding me that they’re not perfect, I cleanly lump her right in there because of the intentional decisions that she and her team have made along the way to ensure that their priorities stay at the core of the business model. These decisions include ingredients, packaging, and shipping materials (which she gives some great practical advice with an example about tape choices). She mentions decisions around what the packaging looks and feels like, offering refillable options to keep the original (beautiful) bottles around indefinitely. We talk about

It also includes the decision to build a giveback initiative into the business model through a partnership with rePurpose Global. What really struck me when I asked her about the partnership is that it wasn’t a specific time period when this partnership was folded into the budget & plan. My assumption here goes straight to the kinds of decisions that business leaders make when they’re building their business. There are some that seem so radical that the details of the decisions stick out as a clear turning point or aha moment. But when decisions about partnerships, givebacks, materials, [fill in the blank with a values-based decision] has become so normalized within the world of the business and/or leader, it’s no longer a notable change. It’s normal. It’s almost as though it's an expected and routine part of the SOP to find partners, manufacturers, team members, you name it that fall in line with the core values. It’s an admirable lesson and an unsung skill that I’m excited to see adopted beyond the bounds of Paume.

She also indulges me in my quest to figure out how to replicate the sustainability of the humans behind successful brands & companies by talking about what she does on a daily basis to stay sane & stable. No surprise here, she’s doing her best to take care of herself and her family. In fact, when we recorded this episode, she’d just returned from a family vacation. She talks about building in regular downtime in the summer. She also talks about the importance of being an example to her team recognizing that she’s setting the standard for the culture. If she practices a healthy working balance, then they’ll be more likely to do so as well. And that keeps everyone’s brains, ideas, and lives ready to tackle whatever they have for the next day. Because like she said, it’s all about making today just a little bit better than yesterday. And I think that sounds like a pretty great life all around.

Alright. That’s enough. Let’s go leave this place better than we found it.

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Amy Welsman, Founder of Paume (Interview 37/100)

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